Good-bye, Asashouryu!

[Ashikaga]

The great Yokozuna, Asashouryu has announced his retirement yesterday (2/4/2010) as a direct result of an incident that had taken place one night in January. He reportedly got drunk and punched a man during an argument, breaking his nose.

It is such a shame to see a great athlete like him ending his Sumo career this way. Not only he was a great wrestler, he had something his rival, the Yokozuna Hakuou did not. A personality. It was always fun to watch him and I will miss him very much.

While some talking heads on TV are saying they should not have forced him to retire, I have to say he had to go. You're a Yokozuna. You just do not go around getting drunk and punching people. I think it was too generous of the Sumo Association to give him a chance to retire instead of firing him which I believe they should have done.

Asashouryu said during a press conference that he just wants to rest for a while. What do you think his next move will/should be?

I wonder he still is allowed to have his own "Heya" and stay in the Sumo world.

 

[FrustratedDave]

Although it is a shame he was forced to quit, I agree he should go. There is more to just wrestling in the Sumo world. He needed to understand the obligations that he had as a role model to other Japanese.

I think he will be able to have his own Heya, but it will be a struggle. To many people who are not happy with him.

 

[epigene]

No, he won't be able to have his own heya. He needed to acquire Japanese citizenship to remain in the sumo world and he intentionally refused to do so. (I heard a radio broadcaster say that he has ambitions to enter Mongolian politics--although I don't know how true it is.)

Anyway, he stupidly believed that sumo is identical to pro wrestling. I think either K1 or some other sport of that kind is the only path he has now.

 

[FrustratedDave]

No, he won't be able to have his own heya. He needed to acquire Japanese citizenship to remain in the sumo world and he intentionally refused to do so. (I heard a radio broadcaster say that he has ambitions to enter Mongolian politics--although I don't know how true it is.)

Anyway, he stupidly believed that sumo is identical to pro wrestling. I think either K1 or some other sport of that kind is the only path he has now.

I thought he got Japanese citenzenship? Is that not a prerequisite to become a yokozuna? Forgive my ignorance in this area.

 

[Elizabeth]

Well, ratings will no doubt plummet. I for one don't care much if average people are killing off their own sport or what his actions may signal outside the ring. All the Japanese could do is actively root against Asashouryu in the arena and cheer him in defeat. Truly the sudden love which has poured forth since his announcement is nauseatingly hypocritical. Japanese press hate on Asashoryu all you want want. I hope you're satisfied. :angryfire:

 

[Ashikaga]

Truly the sudden love which has poured forth since his announcement is nauseatingly hypocritical. Japanese press hate on Asashoryu all you want want. I hope you're satisfied. :angryfire:

Hmm... most of the media coverage following his announcement has been focused on his "un-Yokozuna like" on-and-off the dohyou antics as much as on his glorious wrestling career.

The press loves a good scandal/controversy and Asashouryu has been a favorite target, and will continue to be one for a long time. Someone on TV this morning was even questioning his vacationing in Hawaii after his announcement to retire. I just had to laugh. So, no, Elizabeth. They are not quite satisfied, yet.

The police, meanwhile, says that they will continue on with the investigation of the January incident. They say that they will conduct an interview with the alleged victim and that will be followed by one with the former Yokozuna.

 

[Elizabeth]

Hmm... most of the media coverage following his announcement has been focused on his "un-Yokozuna like" on-and-off the dohyou antics as much as on his glorious wrestling career.
The press loves a good scandal/controversy and Asashouryu has been a favorite target, and will continue to be one for a long time. Someone on TV this morning was even questioning his vacationing in Hawaii after his announcement to retire. I just had to laugh. So, no, Elizabeth. They are not quite satisfied, yet.
The police, meanwhile, says that they will continue on with the investigation of the January incident. They say that they will conduct an interview with the alleged victim and that will be followed by one with the former Yokozuna.

Yeah, the public has also shown mixed reaction, but actually I've only caught snippets of NHK microphone in your face type blurbs and every one of those had the person being interviewed falling all over themselves with admiration. Plus the reporters references to his huge popularity. All I could connect it to was always having heard that most Japanese preferred Hakuho style and the absolute rudeness of the cheers at Asashouryu's last couple losses.

Traditionally, though, sumo wrestlers have had to appeal to the public, like entertainers in showbiz, or essentially be considered worthless. Such a pity. It goes back to the Edo Period as a form of sporting entertainment, after all...

 

[epigene]

I thought he got Japanese citenzenship? Is that not a prerequisite to become a yokozuna? Forgive my ignorance in this area.

The confusion is understandable, actually. I didn't know until someone explained this to me.

Most of the "foreign" yokozunas acquire Japanese citizenship in their prime because the only option left after reaching the top is retirement and hope of becoming a stablemaster.
Still, Akebono, Musashimaru and Konishiki left the sumo world altogether. I wonder who of the former "gaijin" sumo wrestlers actually became stablemasters...???

I agree and hate the hypocrisy of the Japanese media. They all know that Asashoryu announced retirement in a rush because he and his stablemaster were facing an ultimatum from the Sumo-kyokai that he had to retire or face official firing (meaning, dishonorable discharge, no retirement pay). Yokozunas by tradition have to retire voluntarily (even when forced).

What he needed was to join the AA early on in his career and seek rehab for that and for DV... :auch:
He also needed a better stablemaster.

 

[Ashikaga]

I wonder who of the former "gaijin" sumo wrestlers actually became stablemasters...???

The only one I can think of is Takamiyama. (He just retired last year)

What he needed was to join the AA early on in his career and seek rehab for that and for DV... :auch: He also needed a better stablemaster.

You're right. I remember reading that his marriage ended partly because of his drinking and violent tendencies toward his ex.

Speaking of Takasago Oyakata, do you remember the press conference following his "soccer incident" when he came back from Mongolia to check on Asashouryu who was supposedly "recouprating" at some hot spring spa? He was going on and on about how nice the spa was and how the hot spring had made his skin nice and smooth? I literally LMAO'd watching that.

 

[epigene]

The only one I can think of is Takamiyama. (He just retired last year)

Oh, yes, there was Takamiyama. He was a true pioneer.
The different between him and others may be his strength of character and commitment to sumo as his lifetime career.

Speaking of Takasago Oyakata, do you remember the press conference following his "soccer incident" when he came back from Mongolia to check on Asashouryu who was supposedly "recouprating" at some hot spring spa? He was going on and on about how nice the spa was and how the hot spring had made his skin nice and smooth? I literally LMAO'd watching that.

Yes, I remember now. He was cheerful and charming as a sumo wrestler. You need more than an outgoing personality to become a good stablemaster, I guess. (Hint, hint... )

 

[Elizabeth]

The confusion is understandable, actually. I didn't know until someone explained this to me.

Most of the "foreign" yokozunas acquire Japanese citizenship in their prime because the only option left after reaching the top is retirement and hope of becoming a stablemaster.
Still, Akebono, Musashimaru and Konishiki left the sumo world altogether. I wonder who of the former "gaijin" sumo wrestlers actually became stablemasters...???

I agree and hate the hypocrisy of the Japanese media. They all know that Asashoryu announced retirement in a rush because he and his stablemaster were facing an ultimatum from the Sumo-kyokai that he had to retire or face official firing (meaning, dishonorable discharge, no retirement pay). Yokozunas by tradition have to retire voluntarily (even when forced).

What he needed was to join the AA early on in his career and seek rehab for that and for DV... :auch:
He also needed a better stablemaster.

Does anyone even know exactly what happened ? I mean independently of what was reported in the tabloid-style magazine Shukan Shincho that there was an assault outside a Tokyo nightclub where a man was threatened with imminent death.

Asashoryu may or man not have been on pace to break all the records in Sumo , but I can't help wondering how matter of factly a Japanese would be have been "encouraged" to "retire" in the same situation...

Mongolian, Hawaiian, Greek, Russian and whatever other outstanding foreigners should seriously withdraw from JAPANESE Sumo, leave it to fester in its own rot, and start a new, superior, sport.

 

[epigene]

Does anyone even know exactly what happened ? I mean independently of what was reported in the tabloid-style magazine Shukan Shincho that there was an assault outside a Tokyo nightclub where a man was threatened with imminent death.

Asashoryu may or man not have been on pace to break all the records in Sumo, but I can't help wondering how matter of factly a Japanese would be have been "encouraged" to "retire" in the same situation...

Mongolian, Hawaiian, Greek, Russian and whatever other outstanding foreigners should seriously withdraw from JAPANESE Sumo, leave it to fester in its own rot, and start a new, superior, sport.

"Exactly what happened" is something you're not going to get in the "official" media, since they must honor the dignity and tradition of sumo and its wrestlers to some extent.

The fundamental problem with Asashouryu is his blatant disregard to honor sumo rules founded on tradition and propriety--punching up his fist in a win, fooling around when he was supposed to be recuperating, not attending the funeral of an respected elder and others that people who following the reports already know.

"Threatened with imminent death" is not something I heard what happened. This sumo champion simply doesn't know how to control himself when drunk and punched another drunken man in an argument. You know use of physical might or skill by a person specialized in such arts in a fight is regarded tantamount to using a lethal weapon here.
This came out in the open because the injured party fled to a police officer who happened to be nearby, asking for protection.
Worse, Asashouryu and his manager tried to hide this by claiming that the injured party was his manager and not a third person. This didn't work, of course, because there were other people, including police, in the know. Then, they paid this person off and had him write a letter of apology that it was all a mistake.

The incident was simply "the last straw."
Also, this didn't happen because he was a foreign national. There was another Japanese yokozuna who was expelled (i.e., not given the choice of honorable retirement) for knifing younger wrestlers in his stable.

 

[Elizabeth]

One lesson I have taken away from the sorry mess : If sumo is a legitimate sport, allow wrestlers to move from stable to stable in certain instances. Every other sport allows player movement, whether it be in the form of a trade, or a free-agent signing, and so on. I can understand if Asashoryu's stable was unhappy with his public image, but maybe another stable would have liked to have taken a chance on him and brought him in to help their bottom line. It may have helped scare him straight to a significant degree as well. The fact that tradition does not permit this means that sumo is not a legitimate sport; it's just another example of feudalism at work. Players in other sports have options if their team is unhappy with them - sumo wrestlers don't.

And he was more sportsmanlike than most sportsmen in most pro-sports. He was always gracious in victory and defeat. Sure, he got fired up in the ring, but the masses lapped it up, it made modern Sumo what it is.

The excitement level in Sumo is gone - just watch the ratings fall. Count the empty seats in Osaka. It's already possible to buy a same-day ticket which was unthinkable only 20 years ago.

Although it is true he probably wouldn't have to retire if he had just apologized in the first place ; it's not much of a contest when your opponents are all the 70-80 crowd, turgid, utterly rotten-to-the-core Sumo establishment.... Have it your way JSA. I'll be boycotting the next few bashos.

 

[Elizabeth]

The incident was simply "the last straw."
Also, this didn't happen because he was a foreign national. There was another Japanese yokozuna who was expelled (i.e., not given the choice of honorable retirement) for knifing younger wrestlers in his stable.

OK, thanks. What I know barely predates Wakanoho's crime, and he was excommunicated for it ; the first rikishi ever to be cut loose from sumo ?

 

[Elizabeth]

Oh, man...isn't those one of those moments you're wishing for Asa to return. I'll bet the JSA does.
They know and everyone knows Hakuho doesn't have the following to distract viewers away from this catastrope.

Happy listening at Nagoya ! Sumo has to be one of the most corrupt and incestuous sports in the world.


And I WILL resist the temptation to gloat !